Salivary Gland Secretory Carcinoma; Review of 13 Years World-Wide Experience and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Secretory Carcinoma is a malignant salivary gland tumor, initially described in 2010. This rare tumor is associated with the translocation t(12;15) (p13;q25), resulting in the fusion gene ETV6-NTRK3. Since this tumor is quite rare, most publications describe only small cohorts of patients. We aimed to investigate the clinical, pathological, and prognostic features of this newly defined malignant entity.

DATA SOURCES

Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases.

REVIEW METHODS

All published articles between 2010 and 2023 were reviewed. Search terms included the terms "Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma" and "Secretory Carcinoma". All articles published in English reporting on Secretory Carcinoma of salivary glands were retrieved.

RESULTS

One-hundred and 12 retrospective articles reporting a total of 674 patients were included, with 52% males and a mean age of 44.9 ± 18.9. The event rate for patients with advanced-stage disease (Stage 3/4) at presentation was 24.1% (95% CI 17.6%-31.9%, I2  = 9.2%), 14.6% for regional metastases (95% CI 10.5%-20%, I2  = 12%), and the event rate of distant metastasis was 8.4% (95% CI 5.5%-12.7%, I2  = 4.2%). Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered for 30.3% of patients (95% CI 24.1%-37.2%, I2  = 21.5%). The recurrence rate was 19% (95% CI 15.1%-23.8%, I2  = 5%). Survival outcomes showed a 17.2% death of disease rate for Secretory Carcinoma patients (95% CI 13.5%-21.8%, I2  = 7.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Secretory Carcinoma is a rare and relatively newly defined entity arising in the parotid gland most commonly. Characterized as a low-grade tumor, the majority of patients are diagnosed at an early stage, without regional or distant disease, and the prognosis is relatively good.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 134:1716-1724, 2024.

Patients' Persistent Symptoms, Clinician Demographics, and Geo-Economic Factors Are Associated with Choice of Therapy for Hypothyroidism by European Thyroid Specialists: The "THESIS" Collaboration

Background: Hypothyroidism is common, however, aspects of its treatment remain controversial. Our survey aimed at documenting treatment choices of European thyroid specialists and exploring how patients' persistent symptoms, clinician demographics, and geo-economic factors relate to treatment choices. Methods: Seventeen thousand two hundred forty-seven thyroid specialists from 28 countries were invited to participate in an online questionnaire survey. The survey included respondent demographic data and treatment choices for hypothyroid patients with persistent symptoms. Geo-economic data for each country were included in the analyses. Results: The response rate was 32.9% (6058 respondents out of 17,247 invitees). Levothyroxine (LT4) was the initial treatment preferred by the majority (98.3%). Persistent symptoms despite normal serum thyrotropin (TSH) while receiving LT4 treatment were reported to affect up to 10.0% of patients by 75.4% of respondents, while 28.4% reported an increasing such trend in the past 5 years. The principal explanations offered for patients' persistent symptoms were psychosocial factors (77.1%), comorbidities (69.2%), and unrealistic patient expectations (61.0%). Combination treatment with LT4+liothyronine (LT3) was chosen by 40.0% of respondents for patients who complained of persistent symptoms despite a normal TSH. This option was selected more frequently by female thyroid specialists, with high-volume practice, working in countries with high gross national income per capita. Conclusions: The perception of patients' dissatisfaction reported by physicians seems lower than that described by hypothyroid patients in previous surveys. LT4+LT3 treatment is used frequently by thyroid specialists in Europe for persistent hypothyroid-like symptoms even if they generally attribute such symptoms to nonendocrine causes and despite the evidence of nonsuperiority of the combined over the LT4 therapy. Pressure by dissatisfied patients on their physicians for LT3-containing treatments is a likely explanation. The association of the therapeutic choices with the clinician demographic characteristics and geo-economic factors in Europe is a novel information and requires further investigation.

Features of patients and fracture risk in hypoparathyroidism; a single center study

PURPOSE

Patients with hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT) have low bone turnover and high bone mineral density (BMD). However, data on fracture risk are conflicting. The objectives of this study were: 1. To describe clinical/biochemical characteristics of hypoPT patients followed at a single medical center. 2. To identify postsurgical hypoPT patients and investigate their fracture rate compared with gender/age-matched post-surgical normocalcemic patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patient's medical records treated at the tertiary medical center in 2010-2021 identified by computerized medical database search.

RESULTS

The cohort included 133 patients (91% women, mean age 64 ± 13 years) of whom 105 (79%) had post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism and the remainder had an autoimmune/idiopathic/other etiology. Mean follow-up time was 21 ± 12 and 27 ± 12 years, respectively. The control group included 142 post-thyroidectomy patients without hypoparathyroidism. Patients in the postsurgical hypoparathyroidism group were older and had higher calcium and PTH levels at diagnosis than the non-surgical hypoPT patients. Comparing the postsurgical hypoPT and postsurgical normocalcemic control patients revealed a significantly higher BMD in the hypoPT group. Yet, fracture rates were 31% in the postsurgical hypoparathyroidism group and 21% in the control group (P = 0.1) over a similar median follow-up period (17 and 18.4 years, respectively). In both groups the most common fracture site was the spine (50% and 70%, respectively; p = 0.33), mainly nonclinical morphometric fractures. Higher phosphorus blood level was associated with increased fracture risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The relatively high BMD in patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism is not associated with lower fracture risk. Silent morphometric fractures are quite common in this group of patients.

Cabergoline treatment for surgery-naïve non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas

PURPOSE

The treatment strategy of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) includes surgery, radiotherapy, medical therapy, or observation without intervention. Cabergoline, a dopaminergic agonist, was suggested for the treatment of NFPA remnants after trans-sphenoidal surgery. This study investigates the efficacy of cabergoline in surgery-naive patients with NFPA.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study including surgery-naive patients with NFPA ≥ 10 mm, treated with cabergoline at a dose of ≥ 1 mg/week for at least 24 months. Patients with chiasmal damage were excluded. Data collected included symptoms, in particular visual disturbances, hormonal levels, tumor characteristics and size evaluated by MRI. Tumor growth was defined as an increase in maximal diameter of ≥  2 mm, and shrinkage as reduction of ≥ 2 mm.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 25 patients treated with cabergoline as primary therapy. Mean age was 63.3 ± 17.3 years, 56% (14/25) were males. Mean tumor size at diagnosis was 18.6 ± 6.3 mm (median 17 mm, range 10-36), and the average follow-up period with cabergoline was 4.6 ± 3.4 years. Out of the 25 tumors, five tumors (20%) decreased in size (mean decrease of 5.0 ± 3.0 mm), 12 tumors (48%) remained stable, and eight (32%) increased in size (mean growth of 5.0 ± 3.3 mm) with cabergoline treatment. During the first two years of cabergoline treatment, the median tumor size exhibited a reduction of 0.5 mm. Patients with an increase in tumor size had larger adenomas at diagnosis and a longer follow-up. Two patients (8%) underwent surgery due to tumor enlargement.

CONCLUSION

Primary treatment with cabergoline is a reasonable approach for selected patients with NFPAs without visual threat.

Graves' Disease Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Population-based, Matched Case-control Study

OBJECTIVE

Multiple cases and case series reported Graves' disease (GD) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. We aimed to determine whether COVID-19 vaccination was associated with the incidence of GD.

METHODS

We analyzed data from Clalit Health Services, the largest healthcare organization in Israel, which insures 4.7 million patients. A population-based, matched, case-control study was performed. Cases were defined as adult patients diagnosed with GD between December 2020 and November 2022. Each case was matched with controls in a 1:2 ratio. Each control was assigned an index date, which was identical to that of their matched case, defined as the date of GD diagnosis. Time between vaccination date and the diagnosis of GD or index date was assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 726 patients with GD were matched with 1452 controls. The study patients and controls have received similar proportions of the COVID-19 vaccine [at least 1 dose: 80% (581/726) vs 77.8% (1129/1452), P = .22, respectively]. In a univariate analysis, at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was not associated with the incidence of GD [odds ratio 95% confidence interval: 1.15 (.92-1.43)]. The mean time between first COVID-19 vaccination and the diagnosis of GD for cases or index date for controls was not significantly different [275.69 days (SD 144.37) for cases compared to 275.45 days (SD 145.76) for controls].

CONCLUSION

Our study found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and the incidence of GD.

Characteristics of specialists treating hypothyroid patients: the "THESIS" collaborative

Introduction

Thyroid specialists influence how hypothyroid patients are treated, including patients managed in primary care. Given that physician characteristics influence patient care, this study aimed to explore thyroid specialist profiles and associations with geo-economic factors.

Methods

Thyroid specialists from 28 countries were invited to respond to a questionnaire, Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: an International Survey (THESIS). Geographic regions were defined according to the United Nations Statistics Division. The national economic status was estimated using World Bank data on the gross national income per capita (GNI per capita).

Results

5,695 valid responses were received (response rate 33·0%). The mean age was 49 years, and 65·0% were female. The proportion of female respondents was lowest in Northern (45·6%) and highest in Eastern Europe (77·2%) (p <0·001). Respondent work volume, university affiliation and private practice differed significantly between countries (p<0·001). Age and GNI per capita were correlated inversely with the proportion of female respondents (p<0·01). GNI per capita was inversely related to the proportion of respondents working exclusively in private practice (p<0·011) and the proportion of respondents who treated >100 patients annually (p<0·01).

Discussion

THESIS has demonstrated differences in characteristics of thyroid specialists at national and regional levels, strongly associated with GNI per capita. Hypothyroid patients in middle-income countries are more likely to encounter female thyroid specialists working in private practice, with a high workload, compared to high-income countries. Whether these differences influence the quality of care and patient satisfaction is unknown, but merits further study.

The Association Between Hypothyroidism Treatment and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized in Surgical Wards

Limited data are available regarding the association between pre-admission thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and prognosis in hospitalized surgical patients treated for hypothyroidism. We retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 1,451 levothyroxine-treated patients, hospitalized to general surgery wards. The 30-day mortality risk was 2-fold higher for patients with TSH of 5.0-10.0 mIU/L (adjusted OR, 2.3; 95% CI 1.1-5.1), and 3-fold higher for those with TSH > 10.0 mIU/L (3.4; 95% CI 1.3-8.7). Long-term mortality risk was higher in patients with TSH of 5.0-10.0 and above 10.0 mIU/L (adjusted HR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.6, and 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.4, respectively). We found that in levothyroxine-treated adults hospitalized to surgical wards, increased pre-admission TSH levels are associated with increased short- and long-term mortality.

Natural history of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas followed without intervention: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The treatment strategy for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) includes surgery, radiotherapy, medical treatment, or follow-up. Prior series of patients with NFPAs followed without intervention include small numbers of patients with macroadenomas. This study investigated the natural history of patients with macroadenomas followed without treatment.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

Retrospective cohort study included patients>18 years, with a diagnosis of NFPA ≥ 10 mm who were naïve to surgery or medical treatment and followed more than 12 months after diagnosis. Patients with chiasmal threat were excluded. Follow-up terminated if the patient underwent surgery, received cabergoline or was lost to follow-up.

MEASUREMENTS

Data collected included evaluation of tumour characteristics and size by MRI, symptoms including visual disturbances, and hormonal levels. Tumour growth was defined as maximal diameter increase of ≥2 mm.

RESULTS

The cohort included 49 patients (30 males, mean age 68.0 ± 12.0 years). At diagnosis, the average tumour size was 17.8 ± 5.9 mm. Mean follow-up time was 4.9 ± 4.9 years. Increase in tumour size occurred in 16 patients (33%), with an average growth of 5.1 ± 4.4 mm. Reduction in tumour size occurred in 10 patients (20%), with a mean decrease of 3.5 ± 1.3 mm. Twenty-three patients remained with stable tumours. Overall, 33 patients (67%) were observed without any intervention; 3 patients were operated and 13 were treated with cabergoline. None of the parameters including age, gender, baseline tumour size, invasiveness, visual disturbances, or hypopituitarism at diagnosis, predicted tumour growth.

CONCLUSION

Observation of NFPAs without surgery or medical therapy is a reasonable approach in selected patients. In our study, no parameter predicted tumour growth.

A Comparison of Outcomes in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients With and Without a Preoperative Diagnosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Cytological limitations pose a challenge to preoperative diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and therefore, a significant subset of patients is only diagnosed postoperatively. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of knowledge of a preoperative MTC diagnosis on disease management and outcomes. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, cohort study of MTC patients treated in Israel from January 2000 to June 2021. We compared cohorts of patients according to the presence or absence of a preoperative MTC diagnosis. Results: Ninety-four patients with histologically confirmed MTC were included (mean age 56.2 ± 14.3 years, 43% males). Fifty-three patients (56%) had a preoperative MTC diagnosis (preop-Dx group), and 41 (44%) were confirmed only postoperatively (no-Dx group). The extent of surgical resection, including completion procedures, was as follows: total thyroidectomy in 83% versus 100% (p = 0.002), central lymph node dissection (LND) in 46% versus 98% (p < 0.001), ipsilateral lateral LND in 36% versus 79% (p < 0.001), and contralateral lateral LND in 17% versus 28% (NS), in the no-Dx versus the preop-Dx group, respectively. Pathology confirmed a smaller median tumor size of 16 ± 17.4 mm versus 23 ± 14.0 mm (p = 0.09), a higher proportion of micro-MTC (size ≤10 mm) 32% versus 15% (p = 0.03), and a higher rate of co-occurrence of follicular cell-derived carcinoma 24% versus 4% (p = 0.003), in the no-Dx compared to the preop-Dx group, respectively. The rates of extrathyroidal and extranodal tumor extension were not significantly different between the groups. At the last follow-up, the biochemical cure was attained in 55% [CI 0.38-0.71] compared to 64% [CI 0.50-0.77] of the no-Dx and the preop-Dx group, respectively (p = 0.41). After the exclusion of patients with micro-MTC, biochemical cure was more commonly achieved in the preop-Dx group (33% [CI 0.14-0.52] vs. 62% [CI 0.46-0.77], p = 0.04). Preop-Dx patients had improved overall survival compared to the no-Dx group (log-rank p = 0.04) over a median follow-up of 82 months (interquartile range [IQR] 30-153). Conclusions: Preoperatively, the diagnosis of MTC is often missed. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of MTC may enable guideline-concordant surgical treatment and ultimately contribute to an overall survival benefit in MTC patients.

Lenvatinib for the treatment of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: treatment optimization for maximum clinical benefit

.

Position paper from the Endocrine Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) on the management and shared decision making in patients with low-risk micro papillary thyroid carcinoma

The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has been increasing worldwide, mostly, as an increase in the incidental detection of micro papillary thyroid carcinomas (microPTCs), many of which are potentially overtreated, as suggested by the unchanged mortality. Several international guidelines have suggested a less aggressive approach. More recently, it has been shown that active surveillance or minimally invasive treatments (MIT) are good alternatives for the management of these patients. In this context, patient participation in the decision-making process is paramount. The Endocrine Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has undertaken the task to establish consensus and define its position based on the scientific evidence concerning, 1) the current state of diagnostic and management options in microPTCs, including the current opinion of physicians about shared decision making (SDM), 2) the available evidence concerning patients' needs and the available decision instruments, and 3) to provide practical suggestions for implementation of SDM in this context. To improve SDM and patients' participation, knowledge gaps and research directions were highlighted.

Quality of life following lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy is significantly related to hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in quality of life (QOL) following complete or partial thyroidectomy and with regard to thyroid hormone replacement (LT4) therapy.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients who underwent thyroidectomy were asked to complete the validated thyroid-specific ThyPRO QOL questionnaire at least 6 months following surgery.

SETTING

Tertiary medical center.

METHODS

Thyroid specific QOL questionnaire analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 190 patients completed the ThyPRO questionnaire. Of them 89 patients had complete thyroidectomy and 101 patients had unilateral thyroid lobectomy. The total thyroidectomy group had significantly worse overall QOL self-assessment score than the lobectomy patients (p < 0.0001). Patients receiving LT4 therapy regardless of the extent of surgery, reported worse QOL compared to patients not receiving LT4.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of life following thyroid surgery is significantly related to hypothyroidism and the requirement for LT4 therapy, rather to the extent of surgery. The best QOL was reported in patients treated with lobectomy who did not require LT4 therapy.

Adverse Histological Features of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Are Commonly Found in Autopsy Studies: Implications for Treatment Guidelines

Background: While the popularity of lobectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has increased since the 2015 ATA (American Thyroid Association) guidelines, recent studies reported that adverse histological features (minimal extrathyroidal extension [mETE], multifocality, vascular invasion, and lymph node [LN] metastases) may be found in 30-60% of lobectomy specimens, questioning the validity of this approach. Aim: To assess the prevalence adverse histological features in occult DTC detected in autopsy studies. Methods: Meta-analysis of autopsy studies of the thyroid in subjects without known history of thyroid cancer. Results: Twenty-nine studies including 8750 subjects fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with incidentally discovered DTC in 740 autopsies (8.5%). Age was reported in 17 studies, with a median age of 61 years (range 41-68 years). Multifocality was reported in 27 studies with a calculated event rate of 28.2% ([CI 23.1-33.8], I² = 46.3%), with bilateral involvement in 18% [CI 12.6-25.1]. mETE was reported in 5 studies, with an event rate of 24.5% ([CI 9.3-50.7], I² = 88.5%), and the presence of LN metastases were reported in 13 studies with an event rate of 11% ([CI 6.1-19.1], I² = 69.5%). Vascular invasion was reported in seven studies with an event rate of 16% ([CI 4-47], I² = 86.8%). Of 25 studies with whole body autopsies (722 subjects), 3 cases of distant metastases were reported, of which 2 had fatal metastatic disease (where thyroid origin was not diagnosed before death), and 1 had occult disease. Conclusions: Adverse histological features including mETE, LN metastases, multifocality, and vascular invasion are common in occult DTC. When minimal in size, these adverse histological features do not seem to be markers of aggressive disease and may not be an indication for completion thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

Lenvatinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treating patients with locally recurrent or metastatic progressive radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). In this review, we discuss recent developments in the optimization of RR-DTC treatment with lenvatinib.

Summary

Initiation of lenvatinib treatment before a worsening of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio could benefit patients with progressive RR-DTC. The median duration of response with lenvatinib was inversely correlated with a smaller tumor burden, and prognosis was significantly worse in patients with a high tumor burden. An 18 mg/day starting dose of lenvatinib was not noninferior to 24 mg/day and had a comparable safety profile. Timely management of adverse events is crucial, as patients with shorter dose interruptions benefitted more from lenvatinib treatment. Caution should be exercised when initiating lenvatinib in patients who have tumor infiltration into the trachea or other organs, or certain histological subtypes of DTC, as these are risk factors for fistula formation or organ perforation. The Study of (E7080) LEnvatinib in Differentiated Cancer of the Thyroid (SELECT) eligibility criteria should be considered prior to initiating lenvatinib treatment.

Conclusions

Current evidence indicates that patients benefit most from lenvatinib treatment that is initiated earlier in advanced disease when the disease burden is low. A starting dose of lenvatinib 24 mg/day, with dose modifications as required, yields better outcomes as compared to 18 mg/day. Appropriate supportive care, including timely identification of adverse events, is essential to manage toxicities associated with lenvatinib, avoid longer dose interruptions, and maximize efficacy.

“High Risk” Features of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Are Commonly Found in Autopsy Studies: Implications for the ATA Guidelines

Background: While the popularity of lobectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has increased since the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines, several recent studies reported that “high risk” histological features may be found in up to half of lobectomy specimens, questioning the validity of this approach. In turn, the actual risk associated with some “high risk” features (multifocality, minimal extra-thyroidal extension (ETE), and small lymph node (LN) metastases) has been questioned in recent years. Aim: To assess the prevalence of “high risk” pathological features in occult DTC detected in autopsy studies. Methods: Meta-analysis of autopsy studies of the thyroid gland in subjects without history of thyroid cancer. Studies with DTC lesions and details on histological features were included. Results: Twenty nine studies including 8,750 subjects fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with incidentally discovered DTC in 740 autopsies (prevalence of 8.5%). Age was reported in 17 studies, with a median age of 61 years (range 41-68 years). Multifocality was reported in 27 studies with a calculated event rate of 28.2% (95%CI 23.1% to 33.8%, random effect), with bilateral involvement in 18% (95%CI 12.6%-25/1%). Minimal ETE was reported in five studies, with an event rate of 24.5% (95%CI 9.3% to 50.7%, random effect), and the presence of LN metastases was reported in 13 studies with an event rate of 11% (95%CI 6.1% to 19.1%, random effect). Vascular invasion was reported in seven studies with an event rate of 16% (95%CI 4% to 47%, random effect). Conclusions: “High risk” histological features are common in occult DTC found in autopsy studies, and do not seem to be markers of aggressive disease. These data support a less aggressive therapeutic approach in patients with microscopic “high risk” features which were not detected on pre-operative ultrasound.

Familial non-medullary thyroid cancer: a critical review

BACKGROUND

Familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC), mainly of papillary histotype (FPTC), is defined by the presence of the disease in two or more first-degree relatives in the absence of other known familial syndromes. With the increasing incidence of PTC in the recent years, the familial form of the disease has also become more common than previously reported and constitutes nearly 10% of all thyroid cancers. Many aspects of FNMTC are debated, concerning both clinical and genetic aspects. Several studies reported that, in comparison with sporadic PTCs, FPTCs are more aggressive at disease presentation, while other authors reported no differences in the clinical behavior of sporadic and familial PTCs. For this reason, recent guidelines do not recommend screening of family members of patients with diagnosis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). FNMTC is described as a polygenic disorder associated with multiple low- to moderate-penetrance susceptibility genes and incomplete penetrance. At the moment, the genetic factors contributing to the development of FNMTC remain poorly understood, though many putative genes have been proposed in the recent years.

PURPOSE

Based on current literature and our experience with FNMTC, in this review, we critically discussed the most relevant controversies, including its definition, the genetic background and some clinical aspects as screening and treatment.

Adherence to Active Surveillance and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules Not Referred for Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE

Outcomes of patients with cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules not referred for thyroidectomy have hardly been investigated. We previously reported outcomes of 322 patients with thyroid nodules classified according to the Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytology (BSRTC) as indeterminate (B3/B4), of whom 123 (38.2%) underwent thyroidectomy. In the present extension study, we investigated adherence and outcomes in the remaining unoperated 199 patients.

METHODS

We conducted a file review of 189/199 patients with thyroid nodules cytologically diagnosed as B3 (n = 174) or B4 (n = 15) in 2011-2012 who were conservatively followed at our institution until 2019.

RESULTS

Among 174 patients with B3 nodules, 140 (80.4%) underwent repeated ultrasound. Nodular growth was detected in 23 (16.4%), and findings remained stable in 105 (75%). Fine-needle aspiration was repeated in 88/174 patients (50.6%), with B2 results in 62 (70.4%) and B3/B4/B5 in 20 (22.7%). Thyroidectomy was performed in 14/174 patients (8%) in the B3 and 5/15 patients (33%) in the B4 group at a median of 5 years' follow-up; thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 4/14 patients (28.5%) and 3/5 patients (60%), respectively. For B3 patients who remained unoperated, none had evidence of thyroid cancer at last follow-up. A reason for avoiding surgery was documented in 6/10 unoperated B4 patients (1 thyroid lymphoma, 3 died of unrelated causes, 2 were considered inoperable due to advanced age).

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with initially unoperated B3/B4 nodules adhere, at least partially, to active surveillance. For B3 nodules, subsequent thyroidectomy and thyroid cancer detection are rare events, and patients may be safely managed without using molecular markers. Thyroid cancer is diagnosed in most B4 patients who undergo thyroidectomy in our institution.

Prophylactic central neck dissection has no advantage in patients with metastatic papillary thyroid cancer to the lateral neck

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) usually metastasizes via lymphatic channels in a sequential fashion, first to the central compartment, followed by the lateral neck. PTC patients diagnosed with lateral neck disease (N1b) without proof for central involvement traditionally undergo prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND). However, substantial evidence on outcomes to support this approach is lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a dual center retrospective study to compare the rate of central neck recurrence between N1b PTC patients undergoing pCND and those spared pCND. All patients diagnosed with N1b PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and lateral neck dissections with or without pCND between January 1998 and December 2015 were included in this study. The rates of central neck recurrences were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The 111 patients who met the inclusion criteria were 44 females (39.6%) and 67 males (60.4%), with a mean age of 50.2 ± 17.7 years, and a mean follow-up of 10.2 ± 5.3 years. Sixty patients (54.1%) underwent a pCND and 51 patients (45.9%) did not (non-pCND). During follow-up, 18 patients (16.2%) had level VI recurrences, 13 in the pCND group and 5 in the non-pCND group. Cox-regression models with propensity scoring did not reveal any inclination or an advantage for performing pCND.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated no advantage in performing pCND to prevent central neck recurrence among PTC patients with lateral neck involvement only. These findings question the need for pCND in patients without clinical evidence of central neck disease.

Detecting Recurrence Following Lobectomy for Thyroid Cancer: Role of Thyroglobulin and Thyroglobulin Antibodies

BACKGROUND

The use of thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) for detecting disease recurrence is well validated following total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation. However, limited data are available for patients treated with thyroid lobectomy.

METHODS

Patients who had lobectomy for papillary thyroid cancer followed for >1 year, with sufficient data on Tg and TgAb, including subgroup analysis for Hashimoto's thyroiditis and contralateral nodules.

RESULTS

One-hundred sixty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. Average tumor size was 9.5 ± 6 mm. Following lobectomy, Tg was 12.1 ± 14.8 ng/mL. Of 52 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 38% had positive TgAb with titers of 438 ± 528 IU/mL, and in patients without TgAb the mean Tg level was 14.7 ± 19.0 ng/mL. In 34 patients with contralateral nodules ≥1 cm, Tg was 15.3 ± 17 ng/mL. During the first 2 years of follow-up, Tg declined ≥1 ng/mL in 42% of patients (by 5.1 ± 3.7 ng/mL), remained stable in 22%, and increased in 36% (by 4.9 ± 5.7 ng/mL). During a mean follow-up of 6.5 years (78 ± 43.5 months), 18 patients had completion thyroidectomy and 12 were diagnosed with contralateral cancer (n = 8) or lymph node metastases (n = 4). In patients with recurrence followed for >2 years, there was a rise in Tg in 3 cases, Tg was stable in 2 cases, and in 1 TgAb decreased from 1534 to 276 IU/mL despite metastatic lymph nodes. Basal Tg and Tg dynamics did not predict disease recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum thyroglobulin used independently is of limited value for predicting or detecting disease recurrence following thyroid lobectomy. Other potential roles of Tg, such as detecting distant metastases following lobectomy, should be further studied.

Response to Therapy Assessment in Intermediate-Risk Thyroid Cancer Patients: Is Thyroglobulin Stimulation Required?

Introduction: The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines recommend response to therapy (RTT) assessment 1-2 years after initial treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients to guide thyrotropin (TSH) goals and long-term follow-up. We hypothesized that data collected during the first 2 years of follow-up may be sufficient to determine RTT without thyroglobulin (Tg) stimulation. Materials and Methods: Patients treated with total thyroidectomy and radioiodine for intermediate-risk DTC, followed for >2 years, and had sufficient follow-up data were included. Data on Tg, ultrasound, scans, and long-term outcomes were collected. Results: One-hundred twenty patients met inclusion criteria, with 68% women and mean age 55 ± 15 years. Intermediate risk was due to lymph-node involvement (72%), extrathyroidal extension (51%), vascular invasion (12%), and high-risk histology (9%). At the end of follow-up of 7 ± 4 years, 26% had persistent disease (14% biochemical, 12% structural). According to the ATA RTT system (using stimulated-Tg), 56% had excellent RTT, of whom only 2% had disease at the end of follow-up. In the "nonstimulated" system (which includes basal Tg, post-¹³¹I therapy whole-body scan (TxWBS) for assessment of residual lymph-node metastases after surgery, and structural imaging studies), 57% had excellent response, of whom none had disease at the end of follow-up. Only eight patients (7%) were classified differently due to recombinant human thyrotropin stimulation (as either excellent or indeterminate response), with no difference in predictive value, with a receiver-operator characteristic area under the curve of 0.903 with Tg-stimulation and of 0.918 without. Conclusions: In patients with no evidence of disease during the first 2 years of follow-up, the addition of stimulated-Tg adds little prognostic information. We suggest the use of excellent RTT based on basal Tg together with TxWBS and structural imaging studies.

The prognostic value of lymph node ratio in Medullary thyroid carcinoma: A multi-center study

INTRODUCTION

The lymph node ratio (LNR), which represents the proportion of metastatic lymph nodes resected, has been found to be a prognostic variable in several cancers, but data for Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are sparse. The aim of this study was to determine the value of the LNR in predicting outcome in patients with MTC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective multicenter study design of 107 patients with MTC who underwent total thyroidectomy with neck dissection between 1984 and 2016. The association of LNR with patient and tumor characteristics and prognostic factors was evaluated.

RESULTS

Study population consisted of 53.3% female, mean age at diagnosis was 50.3 ± 18.4 years; 16.8% had inherited MTC. LNR was positively correlated with tumor size (p = 0.018) and inversely correlated with age at diagnosis (p = 0.024). A higher LNR was associated with extrathyroidal extension (p < 0.001), multifocality (p = 0.001), bilateral tumor (p = 0.002), distant metastases (p < 0.001), and tumor recurrence (OR = 14.7, p < 0.001). LNR was also correlated to postoperative calcitonin levels (p < 0.001) and carcinoembryonic antigen (p = 0.011). LNR >0.1 was associated with shorter disease-specific survival in patients at risk: tumor larger than 20 mm at diagnosis (p = 0.013), sporadic MTC (p = 0.01), and age above 40 years at diagnosis (p = 0.004). Cox multivariate survival analysis revealed LNR as the only significant independent factor for disease free survival (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that LNR correlates well with patient and tumor characteristics and prognostic variables. We suggest that LNR should be considered an important parameter for predicting outcome in MTC.

Hyperparathyroidism in patients over 75: Clinical characteristics and outcome. Is conservative treatment a safe alternative?

OBJECTIVE

With the current aging of the world's population, primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is increasingly detected in the elderly. Yet data on the presentation and outcome of PHPT in this group are scarce. The objective was to describe a cohort of patients aged 75 years or more with PHPT observed in our endocrine clinic.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of medical records in an endocrine clinic at a tertiary hospital. We evaluated 182 patients with PHPT, aged 75 years or more at their last follow-up, all diagnosed at age 65 or more. Laboratory data were compared at diagnosis and last follow-up.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis was 73 ± 4 years, last follow-up was at 83 ± 4 years, and mean follow-up was 11.3 ± 5.5 years. Osteoporosis, fractures, and nephrolithiasis were diagnosed in 114(63 %), 84(46 %), and 43(24 %) patients, respectively. Overall, 150 patients had an indication for surgery; of them, the 29 who underwent parathyroidectomy were younger than the non-operated patients and had higher rates of hypercalciuria. During the follow-up of the 141 patients who did not undergo operation, serum and urinary calcium levels significantly had decreased, and vitamin D level had increased at last visit (10.4 ± 0.5 mg/dl, 161 ± 70 mg/24 h, 69 ± 17 nmol/l, p < 0.01 respectively) compared with levels at diagnosis (10.6 ± 0.2 mg/dl, 223 ± 95 mg/24 h, 53 ± 15 nmol/l, respectively, p = 0.001). Overall, 38 of the 182 patients (20 %) died during follow-up; these patients were significantly older at diagnosis (76 ± 5 vs. 72 ± 4 years) but there were no differences in laboratory variables.

CONCLUSIONS

While most patients had a formal indication for surgery, few underwent parathyroidectomy. Serum and urinary calcium significantly decreased during follow-up in patients who did not undergo surgery. Our data are reassuring and support at least the consideration of conservative treatment for these patients.

Hyperprolactinemia diagnosis in elderly men: a cohort of 28 patients over 65 years

PURPOSE

To characterize a cohort of elderly men with prolactinomas and their response to treatment.

METHODS

We have identified 28 elderly men diagnosed after the age of 65 with prolactinomas at seven different endocrine clinics in Israel. A retrospective electronic chart review identified a control group of 76 younger men with macroprolactinomas treated in one of the centers.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis was 71.3 ± 5.6 (range 65-86) years, and current age 76.6 ± 7.5 years. Initial complaints leading to diagnosis included sexual dysfunction in 17 males (61%), headaches in two patients (7%), and visual abnormalities in two (7%). Three men presented with osteoporosis. Ten patients (36%) were diagnosed incidentally following brain imaging for unrelated reasons. Seventeen patients (61%) had macroadenoma, while eleven (39%) presented with a microadenoma or no visible adenoma. Mean prolactin (PRL) at presentation was 1594 (median 382; range 50-18,329) ng/ml. Testosterone was low in 21 men. Patients were treated with cabergoline (max dose, 1.1 ± 0.5 mg/week), except for one given bromocriptine; none required pituitary surgery or radiotherapy. Treatment normalized PRL in 24 patients, and in three men PRL suppressed to <2 ULN. Fifteen men normalized testosterone, three improved without normalization, and in three the normal baseline level increased. After a mean follow-up of 5.3 years, 14/15 patients harboring a macroadenoma showed significant adenoma shrinkage. Most patients reported improvement of low libido/erectile dysfunction. In the control group 60 men (79%) achieved PRL normalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly men with prolactinomas are diagnosed incidentally in 36% of cases. Long-term medical therapy is successful, achieving biochemical remission, adenoma shrinkage, and clinical improvement in almost all patients.

Bone-Marrow Suppression in Elderly Patients Following Empiric Radioiodine Therapy: Real-Life Data

Background: Elderly patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) tend to have more advanced disease at presentation, for which high activities of radioiodine (RAI) are often recommended. However, the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend that empirically administered activities of RAI >150 mCi should be avoided in patients >70 years of age, based on calculated bone-marrow exposure according to two dosimetry-based studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RAI treatment on bone-marrow function in elderly DTC patients. Methods: DTC patients ≥70 years of age who received RAI treatment and on whom a complete blood count was performed before and after treatment were included. Blood counts within one year before RAI and one year following treatment were compared in order to assess for marrow suppression. The impact of demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables on complete blood count were assessed. Results: One hundred fifty-three treatments in 122 patients met inclusion criteria, with a mean patient age of 76 ± 4.3 years, and 75% were women. High-risk features at presentation included T4 disease in 17%, lymph node metastases in 34%, and distant metastases in 14%. Mean RAI activity was 136.8 ± 48 mCi (82% ≥ 100 mCi, 66% ≥ 150 mCi). Of 153 RAI treatments analyzed, 114 (74%) were first treatments, 28 (18%) second treatments, seven (5%) third treatments, and four (3%) fourth treatments. At 0-3 months after RAI treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in platelets (238 ± 66 vs. 216 ± 69 × 10⁹/L, 10% decrease; p < 0.001), white blood cells (WBC; 6.9 ± 2 vs. 6.1 ± 1.9 × 10⁹/L, 13% decrease; p < 0.001), and hemoglobin (Hb) in women (12.8 ± 1.1 vs. 12.4 ± 1.1 g/dL, 3% decrease; p = 0.01). Mean platelets, WBC, Hb in women, and lymphocytes remained decreased (but within the reference range) one year after treatment. Subgroup analysis demonstrated platelet suppression only with activities ≥100 mCi, and WBC and Hb suppression only with activities ≥150 mCi, with mean values within the reference ranges. There were no clinically significant cytopenia events during follow-up. Conclusions: Empiric RAI treatment in elderly patients causes mild bone-marrow suppression, with little clinical significance. Activities of 150-200 mCi can be safely used when indicated.

DISEASE PRESENTATION AND REMISSION RATE IN GRAVES DISEASE TREATED WITH ANTITHYROID DRUGS: IS GENDER REALLY A FACTOR?

OBJECTIVE

Male gender is considered an adverse prognostic factor for remission of Graves disease treatment with antithyroid drugs (ATDs), although published data are conflicting. This often results in early consideration of radioiodine treatment and surgery for men. Our objective was to compare disease presentation and outcome in men versus women treated with ATDs.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 235 patients (64 men, 171 women) with Graves disease who were evaluated for features at presentation and outcome at the end of follow-up between 2010 and 2015.

RESULTS

Disease presentation was similar in men and women for age at diagnosis (41.4 ± 14 years vs. 40 ± 15 years), duration of follow-up (6.6 ± 7 years vs. 7.7 ± 6 years), rates of comorbid autoimmune diseases, and rate of Graves ophthalmopathy. Smoking was more prevalent in males (31% vs. 15%; P = .009). Free thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels were comparable. ATDs were first-line treatment in all males and in 168 of 171 females, for a median duration of 24 and 20 months, respectively ( P = .55). Remission rates were 47% in men and 58% in women ( P = .14). Males had fewer adverse events (9% vs. 18%) and treatment discontinuation (5% vs. 16%). Disease recurrence was comparable (14% vs. 20%; P = .32), as was requirement for second-line treatment, either radioiodine therapy or thyroidectomy.

CONCLUSION

Graves disease presentation is similar in men and women. Men treated with ATDs have high remission rates and similar recurrence rates compared to women, with fewer adverse events and less discontinuation of treatment. ATDs are an attractive first-line treatment for both genders.

ABBREVIATIONS

ATA = American Thyroid Association; ATD = antithyroid drug; GO = Graves ophthalmopathy; T3 = triiodothyronine; T4 = thyroxine; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Endocrinopathy-induced euvolemic hyponatremia

Euvolemic hyponatremia results from either the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), hypothyroidism, or adrenal insufficiency. Furthermore, the criteria for diagnosis of SIADH entail the exclusion of hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism. We aim to assess the yield of euvolemic hyponatremia workup focusing on underlying endocrinopathies in a real-world setting. A single-center retrospective study includes all patients diagnosed with euvolemic hyponatremia in a tertiary hospital between 1.1.2007 and 1.1.2013. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from medical charts. Euvolemic hyponatremia was detected in 564 patients. Thyroid function was tested in 69% (391/564) and adrenal function was assessed in 29% (164/564) of cases. Endocrinopathy-induced euvolemic hyponatremia was diagnosed in nine (1.6%) patients: three patients were diagnosed with hypothyroidism-induced hyponatremia, three with adrenal insufficiency as an underlying cause, and three with central hypothyroidism and central hypoadrenalism. All nine had medical history and symptoms suggestive of endocrine deficiencies other than the hyponatremia, which resolved within 1-3 days after administration of hormone replacement therapy. Yield of performed workup for hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism in euvolemic hyponatremia was low. However, in this real-world study, only a limited number of patients underwent a full ascertainment of hypoadrenalism and hypothyroidism, which was diagnosed only in patients with additional findings supportive of these endocrinopathies; a higher rate of undiagnosed endocrinopathies cannot be ruled out. As both hypoadrenalism and hypothyroidism are easily treatable, potentially life-threatening conditions, there are insufficient data to change current recommendation for their universal evaluation in patients with euvolemic hyponatremia.

Impact of Minimal Extra-Thyroid Extension in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Minimal extra-thyroid extension (mETE) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients was defined as an intermediate risk feature in the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines. However, controversy persists as several studies suggested mETE has little effect on disease outcome.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of mETE on DTC patients' outcome.

METHODS

Meta-analysis of controlled trials comparing DTC patients with and without mETE.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Thirteen retrospective studies including 23,816 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 86 months. mETE in patients without lymph node involvement (N0 disease) was associated with increased risk of recurrence (7 studies, OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.03-2.92). The absolute risk of recurrence was 2.2% in patients without extension and 3.5% in patients with mETE (p=0.04). In studies including patients with and without lymph-node involvement (N1/N0 disease), mETE resulted in a significantly higher risk of recurrence (8 studies, OR 1.82, 95%CI 1.14-2.91). The absolute risk of recurrence was 6.2% in patients without extension and 7% in patients with mETE (p=0.01). In patients with micro-papillary carcinoma (<1cm) the impact of mETE was non-significant (OR 2.40, 95%CI 0.95-6.03). Minimal ETE had no impact on disease-related mortality (8 studies, OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.11-2.21).

CONCLUSION

mETE increases risk of recurrence in DTC patients. However, the absolute increase in risk is small, and in patients with N0 disease the risk is within the low-risk of recurrence category at 3.5%. Minimal ETE has no impact on disease-related mortality, and should not change tumor stage.

Temporal Trends in the Presentation, Treatment, and Outcome of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: An Israeli Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

The widespread use of neck sonography in recent years has led to a dramatic increase in the detection of thyroid cancer, accompanied by changes in the clinicopathologic features of the disease. However, small papillary carcinomas account for the bulk of this increase, while little is known about temporal changes in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in the presentation, treatment, and outcome of MTC.

METHODS

Patients treated for MTC at four medical centers in Israel were divided into three groups by year of diagnosis: 19811995 (period A), 1996-2005 (period B), and 2006-2016 (period C). Clinicopathologic and survival data were collected retrospectively from the medical files and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The cohort included 182 patients (54.9% female) with a mean age of 49.2 ± 18.7 years: 43 (23.6%) diagnosed in period A, 54 (29.7%) in period B, and 85 (46.7%) in period C. No significant differences were found between the groups in primary tumor size (25.7 ± 18.9 mm, 26.6 ± 18 mm, and 23.7 ± 17.6 mm, respectively), proportion of micro-MTC (30.8%, 20.0%, and 25.3%, respectively), or TNM staging. Age at diagnosis significantly increased over time (38.7 ± 17.2 years, 51.7 ± 18.4 years, and 53.7 ± 17.7 years, respectively; p < 0.001), and the rate of familial MTC significantly decreased (41.9%, 14.8%, and 8.2%, respectively; p = 0.002). Although the implementation of cervical lymph node dissection increased (62.1%, 78.4%, and 85%, respectively; p = 0.01), detection of metastatic lymph nodes decreased from 88.9% in period A to 65.0% in periods B and C (p = 0.06). There was no difference between the groups in disease-specific survival or disease-free state at one year from diagnosis (37.5%, 43.1%, and 50%, respectively) and last follow-up (27%, 41.2%, and 48%, respectively). Similar findings on MTC presentation and outcomes were obtained when only patients with non-familial MTC were analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike differentiated thyroid cancer, most of the presenting features of MTC have not changed over time. The most significant temporal change is a decreased rate of familial MTC. Despite more extensive surgery and the use of new treatment modalities in recent years, significant improvement in disease-related outcomes were not found.

Clinical characteristics and disease outcome of patients with non-medullary thyroid cancer and brain metastases

Brain metastases from non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (NMTC) are rare, with a reported frequency of ~1%, and patient survival time is <1 year after diagnosis. The optimal management of brain metastases in this setting continues to be debated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a series of patients with brain metastases from NMTC attending a single tertiary medical center. The electronic database of Rabin Medical Center was reviewed for all patients with NMTC and distant metastases who were diagnosed and treated between 1970 and 2014. Those with brain metastases were identified and formed the study group. Data were collected from medical records comprising clinicopathological characteristics, time intervals for diagnosis and treatment, treatment modalities and outcome. Of the 172 patients with NMTC and distant metastases, 10 possessed brain metastases. These included 6 females and 4 males of median age 53.5 years (range, 18–81 years). All patients had lung metastases and 7 demonstrated bone metastases. The median interval between the diagnoses of NMTC and brain metastases was 40 months (range, 9–207 months). Of the 10 patients, 1 presented with brain metastases at primary diagnosis. Treatment of the brain metastases consisted of surgery, radiotherapy (external beam, stereotactic), and radioiodine, alone or in combination. A total of 2 patients received tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The median overall survival time from diagnosis of brain metastasis was 15 months. A total of 2 patients remained alive at the last follow-up (32 and 300 months, respectively). The present study demonstrated that brain metastases may occur in ≤6% of patients with NMTC and distant metastases. Brain metastases rarely present at diagnosis of NMTC and are associated with metastases in other distant sites. Systematic screening for brain metastases requires consideration in all patients with NMTC and distant metastases. Some patients show an indolent evolution with overall survival of >2 years, supporting an aggressive treatment approach.

Natural History of Contralateral Nodules After Lobectomy in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Bilateral thyroid nodularity is considered an indication for total thyroidectomy in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the natural history and outcome of contralateral nodules have never been studied.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the natural history of nonsuspicious contralateral nodules after lobectomy for PTC.

METHODS

We included patients who had one or more solid nodules (≥3 mm) in the contralateral lobe with benign cytology before surgery or small nonsuspicious nodules per ultrasonography.

RESULTS

One hundred and twelve patients were included. Median age was 57 years, and median size of the PTC (initial lobectomy) was 8 mm (range, 0.5 to 28 mm). On the contralateral side, the median size of nodules was 7 mm (range, 3 to 30 mm). Thirty-three nodules (29%) had fine-needle aspiration (FNA) before surgery, and all were benign. After a median follow-up of 6 years, median growth was zero (range, -20 to 19 mm). Twenty-six nodules (23%) increased ≥3 mm in size (median, 6 mm; range, 4 to 19 mm). Twenty patients (18%) developed new nodules. Twelve patients (11%) underwent completion thyroidectomy for growth (three), suspicious FNA (seven; Bethesda III to V), malignancy (one), or unknown reason (one). Overall, according to the completion thyroidectomy specimen, six patients (5%) were diagnosed with contralateral PTC (five micro-PTCs, one 20 mm), and all were without evidence of disease at the end of follow-up. There were no surgical difficulties or local complications during completion surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Lobectomy for low-risk patients with a small PTC and nonsuspicious contralateral thyroid nodule(s) is a reliable and safe initial treatment option. In the few patients who required completion thyroidectomy, treatment with surgery and radioiodine was effective.

Second Radioiodine Treatment: Limited Benefit for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer With Locoregional Persistent Disease

OBJECTIVES

Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment is often indicated after total thyroidectomy in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, its role in biochemical or locoregional persistent DTC is unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of a second RAI treatment in patients with incomplete response to initial treatment and no evidence of distant metastases.

METHODS

Patients who underwent at least two RAI treatments over a 20-year period at a tertiary hospital were identified. Thyroglobulin levels and neck imaging were compared before and 1 to 2 years after RAI retreatment and evaluated at the last visit.

RESULTS

The cohort included 164 patients (103 female; mean age, 46.6 ± 17 years). Of 114 patients retreated without prior reoperation, 53 had structural disease. At 1 to 2 years after RAI retreatment, 10 of the 41 patients with sufficient data had structural progression, 5 resolution/shrinkage, and 26 stable disease. Stimulated thyroglobulin (stTg) measured 93.7.1 ± 108 ng/mL before and 102.2 ± 124 ng/mL after retreatment (P = NS). The other 61 patients had biochemical-only persistence. Their stTg levels decreased from 41.9 ± 56 to 24.6 ± 54 ng/mL (P = 0.003). The 50 patients who underwent neck reoperation before RAI retreatment showed no substantial change in stTg; 21 (42%) still had imaging findings 1 to 2 years later. At final follow-up, despite additional treatment in 63/164 patients (38.4%), only 56/164 (34.1%) had no evidence of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive study showed limited benefit of second RAI treatment in DTC patients with biochemical or locoregional structural persistent disease. Prospective studies are needed to distinguish patients for whom repeated RAI may be indicated to avoid unnecessary exposure.

Pre-admission TSH levels predict long-term mortality in adults treated for hypothyroidism

CONTEXT

Limited data is available regarding the association between pre-admission thyroid function and prognosis of hospitalized patients treated for hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate an association between thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and mortality in hospitalized levothyroxine-treated patients.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Observational data of patients admitted to medical wards between 2011 and 2013. TSH levels obtained up to 180 days prior to admission were stratified as follows: low (≤0.5 mIU/L), normal (0.5-5 mIU/L), high (>5 mIU/L).

PATIENTS

Patients aged 60-80 years with available thyroid function tests were matched with controls without hypothyroidism.

MAIN OUTCOME

All-cause mortality up to 66-months following discharge.

RESULTS

One thousand and fifty seven patients (73% females, mean (SD) age 71 ± 6 years) were matched with controls without hypothyroidism. Mean hospital stay and in-hospital mortality were not different between groups. Mortality risk at the end-of-follow-up was 41% (438/1057) and 37% (392/1057) for patients with and without hypothyroidism (p < 0.05). TSH levels were classified as follows: low, 84 patients (8%); normal, 667 patients (63%); high, 306 patients (29%). Length of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality were not different between TSH categories. Mortality risk at the end-of-follow-up was 30, 39, and 50% with low, normal and elevated TSH, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) of mortality at the end-of-follow-up was of 2.2 (1.2-3.8) for high vs. low TSH levels, and 1.4 (1.1-1.9) for high vs. normal TSH levels.

CONCLUSION

In treated hypothyroid adult patients, increased TSH up to 6 months prior to admission is associated with increased mortality. Treatment should aim at achieving euthyroidism to improve survival.

Response to Treatment is Highly Predictable in cN0 Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

While involvement of macrometastatic lymph nodes is a recognized independent predictor of an adverse course in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients, the clinicopathological variables associated with disease persistence/recurrence in clinically node-negative (cN0) disease are not well defined. The indications for prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) in this patient group remain unclear as well. We aim to investigate the risk factors associated with short- and long-term persistence/recurrence of PTC in patients with cN0 disease at presentation compared to patients with PTC and cervical lymph node involvement (N1) and the response to initial treatment in these subgroups of patients.

METHODS

Data were collected retrospectively for 392 consecutive patients with PTC, 223 with cN0 disease and 169 with N1 disease, who were treated and followed at a single tertiary medical center in which pCND is not routinely performed for PTC.

RESULTS

Compared to patients with N1 disease, patients with cN0 disease had significantly smaller tumors, lower rates of multifocality, and less extrathyroidal extension. Persistency rates at 1 year were 6.7 % in the cN0 group and 47 % in the N1 group, and at last follow-up, 3.6 and 33.5 %, respectively (p = 0.001 for both time points). Within the cN0 group, those with persistent disease at 1 year (n = 15) had significantly larger tumors and higher stimulated thyroglobulin. Only six had structural residual disease, four of them lymph node metastases. All patients with persistent disease were initially treated with total thyroidectomy and radioiodine. Recurrence occurred in only three patients. After 8.3 ± 3.8 years of follow-up, eight patients with cN0 had persistent disease, three of them biochemical. Higher American Joint Committee of Cancer stage and extrathyroidal extension were the only factors that predicted disease persistence at the last follow-up in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with cN0 PTC and no distant metastases are usually disease free after thyroidectomy with/without radioactive iodine and do not need further interventions. The initial staging in these patients is a valid prognostic factor for disease outcomes.

Disease Severity at Presentation in Patients with Disease-Related Mortality from Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Implications for the 2015 ATA Guidelines

BACKGROUND

The current trend of less aggressive treatment of low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients was recently challenged by a study reporting >10% disease-related mortality (DRM) in low-risk patients ablated with radioiodine activities below 54 mCi. However, this study and others were limited by incomplete data on disease severity at presentation. Whether patients presenting with low-risk disease are at risk for disease-related mortality is crucial for planning current treatment strategies.

METHODS

Patients with documented DRM from DTC were included from the Rabin thyroid cancer registry and the Davidoff Head and Neck cancer service databases. Disease characteristics at presentation, treatments, disease course, and cause of death were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 1374 patients whose charts were reviewed, 56 were confirmed to have died of DTC, and 53 had sufficient data for analysis. Median time from diagnosis to death was 9 years (range 1-36). Cause of death was related to distant metastases in 46 patients and aggressive neck disease in 7 patients. The median age at diagnosis was 62 years (range 22-83, 83% older than 45), and were initially categorized as American Thyroid Association high risk in 89% of cases (in 4 cases due to high thyroglobulin levels), intermediate risk in 6% (3 older patients with N1b disease), misclassification as benign in one case, and none was low risk. Most patients had an advanced disease stage (stage IV, 88%; III, 2%; II, 2%; I, 8%). All patients with stage I disease were <45 years, with aggressive features (1 poorly differentiated, 3 gross extrathyroidal extension). One patient with stage II disease was <45 years and had distant metastases. Detection of distant metastases occurred within the first year in 25 patients and during subsequent follow-up in 25 patients. Overall, aside from one patient who was misdiagnosed as having a benign follicular adenoma at presentation, all patients had aggressive disease features at presentation.

CONCLUSION

None of the patients with DRM had low-risk features at presentation, supporting the current paradigm of less aggressive approach in the low-risk group. Studies analyzing mortality from thyroid cancer should stratify patients into the various risk categories based on full baseline data, including postoperative thyroglobulin levels.

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER AND DISTANT METASTASES

OBJECTIVE

Distant metastatic spread is the most frequent cause of thyroid cancer-related death. The objective of this study was to evaluate overall and disease-related survival of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and distant metastases (DM) attending a single medical center and to investigate variables predictive of better long-term outcomes.

METHODS

The Rabin Medical Center Thyroid Cancer Registry was searched for patients with DM from DTC.

RESULTS

The cohort included 138 patients (58.7% female) diagnosed at age 54.7 ± 19.5 years. Mean primary tumor size was 33.9 ± 26 mm. Most patients (57.7%) were stage T3/T4; 48.7% had extrathyroidal extension; 53.5% had lymph node metastases. Histopathology yielded papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma in 66.7% and 13.8%, respectively, and intermediate/poorly differentiated carcinoma in 19.6%. All but 2 patients underwent total thyroidectomy, and 133/138 (96.4%) received radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. DM were synchronous in 55.1%. The mean follow-up was 8.2 years from detection of metastases. The common sites of metastases were the lungs (85.6% of patients), bones (39.9%), brain (5.8%) and liver (3.6%). At last follow-up, resolution was documented in 24.6% of patients, improvement/stable disease in 31.6%, and structurally progressive disease in 43.4%. By the end of the study, 40.6% of patients died, 23.2% of DTC. Improved overall survival and disease progression were associated with younger age, lung-only DM, and metastatic RAI avidity.

CONCLUSION

Patients with DTC and DM treated by standard-of-care approaches frequently achieve favorable long-term outcomes. Novel therapies might be necessary in only a minority of these patients, and the reported prognostic factors can aid in their identification.

ABBREVIATIONS

CR = complete response; DM = distant metastases; DTC = differentiated thyroid cancer; ETE = extra-thyroidal extension; M0 = detected during follow-up; M1 = detected at diagnosis; MSKCC = Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; NED = no evidence of disease; OS = overall survival; PFS = progression free survival; PTC = papillary thyroid cancer; RAI = radioactive iodine; Tg = thyroglobulin.

Are Thyroid Hormone Values Obtained in Hospitalized Elderly Patients Reproducible? - A Cohort Study

It is unclear whether TSH should be obtained in elderly hospitalized patients as several factors associated with hospitalization influence these levels, which may not truly represent the thyroid status of the individual. All patients≥65 years old hospitalized in a geriatric ward in the years 2012-2014 had TSH measured irrespective of the cause for hospitalization. All patients in whom TSH levels were performed in an ambulatory setting 2-12 months following hospitalization were identified and these TSH levels were correlated with levels recorded during hospitalization. Factors influencing TSH reproducibility were identified through review of patients' medical records. Of 562 patients hospitalized during the study period, 198 had repeat ambulatory TSH measurements during follow-up. The Katz Index of Independence was higher (9.43±2.98 vs. 8.43±3.67 p=0.002) and cerebrovascular disease was less prevalent (15.6 vs. 25.2% p=0.014) in those who had a repeat TSH measurement compared with those who did not, but other baseline characteristics and TSH levels on admission were similar. Ambulatory TSH values were significantly correlated with those obtained during hospitalization (correlation coefficient=0.677), irrespective of baseline systolic blood pressure, cause of hospitalization, or admission albumin levels. Mean TSH difference between in-hospital and ambulatory was 0.65±2.36 mIU/l and in more than 94% of cases TSH values differed by less than 2 mIU/l between the 2 measurements. In hospitalized patients≥65 years old, TSH levels are highly concordant with ambulatory values. TSH obtained during hospitalization may be used for making treatment decisions and has clinical utility in this population.

IGF-I levels reflect hypopituitarism severity in adults with pituitary dysfunction

PURPOSE

To evaluate the utility of Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) standard deviation score (SDS) as a surrogate marker of severity of hypopituitarism in adults with pituitary pathology.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective data analysis, including 269 consecutive patients with pituitary disease attending a tertiary endocrine clinic in 1990-2015. The medical files were reviewed for the complete pituitary hormone profile, including IGF-I, and clinical data. Age-adjusted assay reference ranges of IGF-I were used to calculate IGF-I SDS for each patient. The main outcome measures were positive and negative predictive values of low and high IGF-I SDS, respectively, for the various pituitary hormone deficiencies.

RESULTS

IGF-I SDS correlated negatively with the number of altered pituitary axes (p < 0.001). Gonadotropin was affected in 76.6 % of cases, followed by thyrotropin (58.4 %), corticotropin (49.1 %), and prolactin (22.7 %). Positive and negative predictive values yielded a clear trend for the probability of low/high IGF-I SDS for all affected pituitary axes. Rates of diabetes insipidus correlated with IGF-I SDS values both for the full study population, and specifically for patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

CONCLUSIONS

IGF-I SDS can be used to evaluate the somatotroph function, as a valid substitute to absolute IGF-I levels. Moreover, IGF-I SDS predicted the extent of hypopituitarism in adults with pituitary disease, and thus can serve as a marker of hypopituitarism severity.

Incidence of Nonthyroidal Primary Malignancy and the Association with (131)I Treatment in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of nonthyroidal primary malignancy (NTPM) and the potential association of with radioiodine (RAI) treatment are important concerns in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), but incidence data are conflicting. The aims of the present study were to investigate the incidence of NTPM and its association with RAI treatment in a cohort of DTC patients treated at a single tertiary medical center.

METHODS

The data of 1943 patients with DTC recorded in the Rabin Medical Center Thyroid Cancer Registry were cross-matched with data from the Israeli National Cancer Registry to identify those diagnosed with an NTPM. Patient medical files were reviewed. Second primary malignancy (SPM) was defined as new malignancy diagnosed at least two years after DTC diagnosis.

RESULTS

For 1434 of the 1943 patients (73.8%), the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM stage was 1-2. The mean follow-up was 9.3 years. Of the 1943 patients, 1574 (81%) were treated with RAI, and 1467 were followed for at least 2 years, and of these, 1145 patients (78%) received a cumulative dose of ≤200 mCi. A total of 409 NTPMs were diagnosed in 368/1943 patients with DTC (18.9%; 265 female, mean age 53.9 ± 15 years), including 173 SPMs (42.3%) in 166/368 patients. The most common NTPM and SPM was breast cancer followed by hematologic malignancies. In patients followed for ≥2 years, SPMs were diagnosed in 9% of RAI-treated patients and 10.5% of non-RAI-treated patients. SPM rates were 10.2% and 7.8% for a cumulative RAI dose of ≤100 mCi and >100 mCi respectively. Hazard ratios for SPM in patients that received/did not receive RAI treatment was 1.27 (95% confidence interval 0.88-1.82; p = 0.1). There was no correlation between first or cumulative RAI dose and diagnosis of SPM.

CONCLUSIONS

NTPMs are not uncommon in patients with DTC and usually antecede the DTC. In a population of mostly low-risk DTC patients, in whom limited activities of RAI are usually administered, this treatment is apparently not associated with an overall increased risk of SPMs compared with subjects not receiving RAI treatment.

Treatment of clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas with dopamine agonists

OBJECTIVE

Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) remains the only pituitary tumor subtype for which no effective medical therapy is available or recommended. We evaluated dopamine agonist (DA) therapy for preventing growth of postsurgical pituitary tumor remnants.

DESIGN

The study design included historical cohort analysis of clinical results at two pituitary referral centers with different standard practices for postoperative NFPA management: DA therapy or conservative follow-up.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients followed for 8.8±6.5 years were treated with DA, initiated upon residual tumor detection on postoperative MRI (preventive treatment (PT) group, n=55), or when tumor growth was subsequently detected during follow-up (remedial treatment (RT) group, n=24). The control group (n=60) received no medication. Tumoral dopamine and estrogen receptor expression assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunostaining were correlated with response to treatment.

RESULTS

Tumor mass decreased, remained stable, or enlarged, respectively, in 38, 49, and 13% of patients in the PT group, and in 0, 53, and 47% of control subjects; shrinkage or stabilization was achieved in 58% of enlarging tumors in the RT group, P < 0.0001.Fifteen-year progression-free survival rate was 0.805, 0.24, and 0.04, respectively, for PT, RT, and control groups (P<0.001). About 42% of patients in the control group required additional surgery or radiotherapy, compared with 38 and 13% subjects in the RT and PT groups, respectively (P=0.002). Outcome measures were not related to NFPA D2R abundance.

CONCLUSIONS

Dopamine agonist therapy in patients with NFPA is associated with decreased prevalence of residual tumor enlargement after transsphenoidal surgical resection.

Bone mineral density utilization in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Bone disease is a major cause for morbidity in multiple myeloma (MM), with the main focus concerning the manifestation as osteolytic lesions. Bone mineral loss is another reflection of myeloma bone involvement. Recently, osteoporosis has been omitted as a defining criterion for symptomatic disease in MM. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the use of bone mineral density (BMD) exams by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) among MM patients in a tertiary medical care centre. One-hundred seventy three patients were included. The T-scores of lumbar spine (LS), left femur neck (FN) and left total hip (TH) were obtained and analysed. The extent of osteolytic disease was categorized based on six bony areas. There was a strong correlation between spine and femur's T-scores (r = 0.56-0.61, p < 0.0001), although different sets of variables were correlated with LS and femur's T-scores. There was no correlation between BMD measurements and osteolytic disease extent. Patients with vertebral fracture(s) had significant lower T-scores of the spine in comparison to patients without vertebral fractures. Sixty-three patients (36.4% of the cohort) had follow-up DXA exam. In general, there was an increase in the LS T-scores, while femoral values decreased. However, in patients who achieved complete response (CR) and in those who retained CR during follow-up, femoral BMD increased as well. Because correlation between BMD and the extent of osteolytic lesions was not seen, our data support the recent exclusion of BMD assessment from the definition of symptomatic myeloma. Still, its use should be considered for evaluation of age- or therapy-related osteoporosis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of adrenal incidentalomas in potential kidney donors

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) in asymptomatic individuals is unknown. This study evaluated the prevalence of AIs in healthy kidney donors in whom pre-operative computed tomography (CT) is performed routinely.

METHODS

All potential kidney donors evaluated at the Rabin Medical Center who had routine abdominal CT were identified and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects who had normal CT scans were compared with those with a finding of an AI, evaluating demographic (age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and laboratory variables (glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, albumin and creatinine). In addition, prevalence of hypertension, rate of donation and surgical mortality were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

CT was performed in 673 potential kidney donors. Of these, 645 had a normal CT and 28 (4.2%) had evidence of an AI. Those with AIs had a similar prevalence of hypertension, kidney donation and surgical mortality as those with a normal CT. Those with AIs were older (50.93 ± 11.1 versus 43.76 ± 11.1 years) but other demographic variables were similar; laboratory variables were also similar except for slightly lower albumin and creatinine in those with AIs.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of AIs is high even in healthy asymptomatic individuals.

The Implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology Improves Malignancy Detection Despite Lower Rate of Thyroidectomy in Indeterminate Nodules

BACKGROUND

The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) was developed in 2009 to standardize the terminology for interpreting fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens.

METHODS

A historical prospective case series design was employed. The study group included patients with a thyroid nodule classified as TBSRTC AUS/FLUS (B3) or FN/SFN (B4) in 2011-2012 in a tertiary university-affiliated medical center. Rates of surgery and malignancy detection were compared to our pre-TBSRTC (1999-2000) study.

RESULTS

Of 3927 nodules aspirated, 575 (14.6%) were categorized as B3/B4. Complete data were available for 322. Thyroidectomy was performed in 123 (38.2%) cases: 66/250 (26.4%) B3 and 57/72 (79.2%) B4. Differentiated thyroid cancer was found in 66 (53.7%) patients: 30/66 (45.5%) B3 and 36/57 (63.2%) B4 (p=0.075). Operated patients were younger than the non-operated (B3: 52.4±16 vs. 59.7±13 years, p=0.009; B4: 51.7±15 vs. 60.5±14 years, p=0.042), and operated B3 nodules were larger than the non-operated (27.2 vs. 22.2 mm, p=0.014). Additional FNA was done in 160 patients (49.7%): 137/250 (54.8%) B3 and 23/72 (31.9%) B4 (p=0.002). The additional B3 nodules aspirations yielded a diagnosis of B2 in 84 patients (61.3%), B3 in 48 (35%), and B4 in 5 (3.6%). Of the 23 repeated B4 aspirations, B2 was reported in 5 (21.7%), B3 in 12 (52.2%), B4 in 4 (17.4%), and B6 in 2 (8.7%). The number of aspirated nodules was twice that reported in 1999-2000. The rate of indeterminate nodules increased from 6 to 14.6%, the surgery rate decreased from 52.3 to 38.2%, and the accuracy of malignancy diagnosis increased from 25.9 to 53.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of TBSRTC significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for indeterminate thyroid nodules, leading to higher rates of malignancy detection despite lower rates of thyroidectomies.

Radiation-Induced Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Disease Characteristics and Survival

BACKGROUND

Radiation exposure is a well-known risk factor for well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). However, disease characteristics, optimal treatment, time from exposure to disease appearance, and the effect of age at initial exposure on the outcome have yet to be determined.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the characteristics of radiation-induced thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

We retrieved the charts of all patients previously exposed to radiation who were diagnosed with WDTC between the years 1985 and 2013 in a tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were reviewed. Median time from radiation exposure to diagnosis was 23 years. These patients had higher rates of aerodigestive symptoms and distant metastases on presentation than seen in non-radiated patients. Patients who were exposed to radiation before age 15 years tended to develop the disease at a younger age but had a longer latency period (34.7 ± 15.3 vs. 16.3 ± 10 years, P < 0.001) and none had significantly higher rates of vocal cord palsy, hoarseness on presentation, or aggressive variants on histology compared to patients exposed to radiation at an older age. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was the same for both groups and were similar to that seen in the general population (95% 20 year DSS).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation-induced thyroid cancer has a more aggressive presentation and the age at exposure affects the presentation of disease. Nonetheless, appropriate treatment leads to a favorable prognosis.

VARIATIONS IN CLINICAL AND IMAGING FINDINGS BY TIME OF DIAGNOSIS IN FEMALES WITH HYPOPITUITARISM ATTRIBUTED TO LYMPHOCYTIC HYPOPHYSITIS

OBJECTIVE

To describe the various patterns of presentation, including assisting analyses, associated with the timing of diagnosis of females with hypopituitarism and suspected clinical diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 9 consecutive females with pituitary dysfunction developed during or after pregnancy. All subjects were treated in our clinics between 2008 and 2014. Data were collected on clinical characteristics, pituitary hormone levels, and imaging findings.

RESULTS

The study group included 9 patients with a mean age 33.7 ± 7.8 years at delivery. The probable cause of disease was lymphocytic hypophysitis. Headache or specific symptoms/signs of hypopituitarism appeared within 1 year of delivery. Five patients had headache, and 8 had difficulty breastfeeding or amenorrhea. Laboratory findings included central hypocortisolism (8/9 patients), hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (8/9), and central hypothyroidism (6/7). Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were low in 8/8 patients. Prolactin levels were low in 3/9 patients, and 1 patient had diabetes insipidus. Seven patients were diagnosed less than 1 year from symptom onset; 4 (57%) complained of headaches, and 5 (71%) had panhypopituitarism. Two patients were diagnosed later. Both had difficulty breastfeeding and amenorrhea, and one also had headaches. Both had panhypopituitarism and reduced pituitary volume. None of the patients fully recovered pituitary function. Normalization of the thyrotroph axis occurred in 3 patients, gonadotroph function in 3, the corticotroph axis in 2, and IGF-1 normalized in 1 subject.

CONCLUSION

Hypopituitarism attributed to lymphocytic hypophysitis may present during pregnancy or early postpartum period with a clear clinical picture, or later, with indolent and nonspecific symptoms and signs.

Papillary thyroid cancer: factors involved in restaging N1 disease after total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine treatment

CONTEXT

The presence of cervical lymph node metastases is a strong predictor of persistent disease in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate factors associated with improved outcome in patients with PTC and lymph node metastases.

DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary university-affiliated medical center.

PATIENTS

PATIENTS treated for PTC and N1 disease since 1995 participated in the study. Partial thyroidectomy, distant metastases, and poor differentiation were the exclusion criteria.

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention was a data search of the Thyroid Registry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Significant association of clinical and disease-related factors with persistent disease was measured.

RESULTS

Of 800 patients treated for PTC during the study period, 182 (69% female; mean age at diagnosis 46.5 ± 15 y) had N1 disease (47% N1a, 53% N1b). Most (93.4%) had a classical/follicular variant; 65% had T1-2 disease; and 42.6% had extrathyroid extension. All patients were treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine (mean first dose 147 ± 26 mCi). Lateral neck dissection was performed in 53% patients. Mean follow-up was 9.2 ± 4.5 years. On regression analysis, factors significantly and independently associated with persistent disease at 1 year (94 of 182, 52%; 40% of N1a group, 59% of N1b group) were primary tumor size, focality, and extrathyroid extension and at the last follow-up (62 of 182, 34%; 27% of N1a group, 33% of N1b group), primary tumor size, 1-year stimulated thyroglobulin level, and cumulative I(131) dose. Stimulated thyroglobin less than 2.1 ng/mL at 1 year predicts the absence of disease at the last follow-up with an 86% negative predictive value.

CONCLUSION

PATIENTS with PTC and N1 disease treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine have a significant risk of persistent disease at early and late follow-up. The extension of the primary tumor at diagnosis appears to be the only significant predictor of persistency in these patients.

Association between BRAF V600E mutation and recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer

PURPOSE

To investigate the prognostic value of BRAF V600E mutation for the recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter study of the relationship between BRAF V600E mutation and recurrence of PTC in 2,099 patients (1,615 women and 484 men), with a median age of 45 years (interquartile range [IQR], 34 to 58 years) and a median follow-up time of 36 months (IQR, 14 to 75 months).

RESULTS

The overall BRAF V600E mutation prevalence was 48.5% (1,017 of 2,099). PTC recurrence occurred in 20.9% (213 of 1,017) of BRAF V600E mutation-positive and 11.6% (125 of 1,082) of BRAF V600E mutation-negative patients. Recurrence rates were 47.71 (95% CI, 41.72 to 54.57) versus 26.03 (95% CI, 21.85 to 31.02) per 1,000 person-years in BRAF mutation-positive versus -negative patients (P < .001), with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.82 (95% CI, 1.46 to 2.28), which remained significant in a multivariable model adjusting for patient sex and age at diagnosis, medical center, and various conventional pathologic factors. Significant association between BRAF mutation and PTC recurrence was also found in patients with conventionally low-risk disease stage I or II and micro-PTC and within various subtypes of PTC. For example, in BRAF mutation-positive versus -negative follicular-variant PTC, recurrence occurred in 21.3% (19 of 89) and 7.0% (24 of 342) of patients, respectively, with recurrence rates of 53.84 (95% CI, 34.34 to 84.40) versus 19.47 (95% CI, 13.05 to 29.04) per 1,000 person-years (P < .001) and an HR of 3.20 (95% CI, 1.46 to 7.02) after adjustment for clinicopathologic factors. BRAF mutation was associated with poorer recurrence-free probability in Kaplan-Meier survival analyses in various clinicopathologic categories.

CONCLUSION

This large multicenter study demonstrates an independent prognostic value of BRAF V600E mutation for PTC recurrence in various clinicopathologic categories.

Elevated white blood cell counts in Cushing's disease: association with hypercortisolism

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoid receptors are expressed in white blood cells (WBC’s) and are known to play a role in cell adhesion and WBC's recruitment from bone marrow. In Cushing's disease leukocytosis is frequently mentioned as laboratory finding. However, there is no data on the prevalence of this finding among patients, or correlation with disease severity.

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence of leukocytosis in patients with Cushing's disease, alterations in other blood count parameters and correlation with degree of hypercortisolism.

METHODS

Data of 26 patients diagnosed and followed for Cushing's disease at our clinic was reviewed. Two patients had disease relapse after complete remission and were studied as 2 separate events.

RESULTS

Of the 26 patients, 17 were women (71 %), with a mean age of 39.8 ± 12.7 years. Mean baseline WBC count was 10,500 ± 2,600 cells/μl and dropped to 8,400 ± 1,900 cells/μl (p < 0.05) after treatment, mean neutrophil count at baseline was 7,600 ± 2,600 cells/μl and dropped to 5,300 ± 1,700 cells/μl (p < 0.05), lymphocyte count was 2,000 ± 600 cells/μl and raised to 2,300 ± 600 cells/μl (p < 0.05), hemoglobin was 13.7 ± 1.2 g/dl and dropped to 12.8 ± 1.4 g/dl (p < 0.05), and platelet number did not change. Elevated WBC count was present in 11/28 cases (40 %). Those patients with normal baseline WBC (mean 9,000 ± 1,500 cells/μl) dropped also to 7,700 ± 1,300 cells/μl after treatment (p < 0. 05). There was a significant positive correlation between decrease in UFC secretion and change in WBC's following treatment (r = 0.67, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Cushing's disease present with leukocytosis in approximately 40 % of cases. In most cases, including those without elevated baseline count, the WBC's decreased with disease remission, demonstrating the effect of glucocorticoids on these blood cells.

Glucocorticoid regimens for prevention of Graves' ophthalmopathy progression following radioiodine treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy has been shown to prevent Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) progression following radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. However, the optimal regimen is controversial, with studies from recent years suggesting the use of lower doses and shorter GC treatment courses.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective controlled trials comparing GC regimens versus placebo, no treatment, or other GC regimens.

RESULTS

Eight trials evaluating 850 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. In patients with preexisting GO, standard dose prednisone (0.4-0.5 mg/kg tapered over 3 months) was very effective for prevention of GO progression (OR 0.14 [CI 0.06-0.35], p<0.01) in patients with mild to moderate GO. Two studies evaluated low-dose prednisone (0.2-0.3 mg/kg for 4-6 weeks) in patients with mild GO or risk factors, but were limited by not including patients with preexisting GO in the control groups. Therefore, the two low-dose groups were evaluated using indirect comparisons with control groups matched for age and clinical activity score, showing excellent efficacy versus no treatment or placebo (OR 0.20 [CI 0.07-0.60], p=0.004) and no significant difference compared with standard dose (OR 1.7 [CI 0.52-5.52], p=0.47). In patients without preexisting GO, steroid prophylaxis had no beneficial effect (OR 1.87 [CI 0.81-4.3]), though there were insufficient data regarding patients with risk factors for GO development. GC prophylaxis had no impact on hyperthyroidism resolution (OR 1.05 [CI 0.69-1.58]), and GC side effects were common but mild.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence supports a three-tier approach for prevention of GO progression following RAI. Standard dose prednisone is the best validated regimen and should be used in patients with mild to moderate GO who have high risk of progression, while low dose prednisone can be used in patients with mild GO, and in patients without preexisting GO who have risk factors and are selected for GC prophylaxis. Patients without preexisting GO and without risk factors should not be treated with GC prophylaxis.

Natural history of small radioiodine-avid bone metastases that have no structural correlate on imaging studies

Bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer are generally resistant to radioiodine (RAI) therapy and are associated with poor prognosis. However, in a recent study from our group we noted a small subgroup of patients with RAI-avid bone metastases who had no structural correlate on imaging studies, and had no skeletal complications during follow-up. The purpose of this study was to better define the natural history and outcome of these patients. In a retrospective review of medical records at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 288 patients were identified with bone metastases from thyroid cancer between 1960 and 2011. Out of this group, 14 patients who had a RAI-avid bone metastasis without structural correlate on CT or MRI were included in the study. After a median follow-up period of 5 years (range 2-14 years) all patients were alive, none had evidence of structural bone metastases, and none had experienced skeletal-related events. The final disease status was: no evidence of disease in 6 patients (43 %), stable biochemical persistence in 2 patients (14 %), stable structural disease in 5 patients (36 %), and one patient with slowly progressive disease. To conclude, RAI-avid bone metastases with no structural correlate on high-resolution imaging studies often resolve following RAI treatment, do not cause skeletal-related complications, and do not have a major prognostic significance. Recognition of this unique type of bone metastases is important as it is not associated with the same poor prognosis and resistance to RAI therapy that is associated with structurally identifiable bone metastases.